IAEA comments on another blackout at ZNPP

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi responded to the blackout.

"Ukraine’s ZNPP this morning lost all external electricity for 7th time during conflict, forcing it to rely on emergency diesel generators for power; nuclear safety situation at the plant extremely vulnerable. We must agree to protect plant now; this situation cannot continue," he tweeted.

Earlier, Energoatom National Nuclear Energy Generating Company reported the information on Telegram.

"As a result of a senseless terrorist attack by Russia on the night of May 22, at 5:26 a.m., the last high-voltage transmission line Dniprovska 750 kV, which supplied the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP for its own needs, was disconnected. For the seventh time since the beginning of the occupation of the Ukrainian station by Russian terrorists (March 4, 2022), ZNPP is switching to blackout mode," the post says.

After the loss of external power, which is vital to ensure the operation of the cooling pumps for the nuclear material of the power units, all diesel generators of the nuclear power plant were automatically switched on. The post emphasizes that the fuel supply will last for ten days. 

If it is impossible to restore external power to the plant during this time, an accident with radiation consequences for the whole world may occur.

"The further occupation of ZNPP by Russia, the domination of the illegitimate, unprepared Russian leadership, which bears no responsibility for the nuclear and radiation safety of the facility, constantly worsens the conditions for maintaining the plant on the verge of a nuclear and radiation accident. Russia's nuclear terrorism must stop immediately, and the invaders must leave the territory of the plant and the satellite city of Enerhodar," the post says.

The statement also added that ZNPP should immediately return to the full control of the legitimate operator, Energoatom, with the subsequent return of the plant to normal operation with the restoration of nuclear and radiation safety of the facility.

The actions of the entire international community are urgently needed to withdraw Russian terrorist groups from the territory of Zaporizhzhia NPP, transfer it under the full control of a competent legitimate operator, the Ukrainian Energoatom, and restore the conditions for maintaining nuclear, radiation and physical safety of the nuclear facility.

• Earlier, State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine reported that Russians had placed explosives in the turbine room of the 4th power unit of the occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP.

• Energoatom assessed the risks to ZNPP in the event of a counteroffensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Zaporizhzhia.

• Earlier, Energoatom President Petro Kotin said that the first stage of the Fukushima accident had occurred at ZNPP 6 times.